The Cinco Ranch Lady Cougars are trying to put the finishing touches on their eighth district championship.

This one would be particularly sweet.

The program went through a rough patch recently, finishing fourth in back-to-back seasons after advancing to the Class 5A state semifinals and winning their fourth district championship in five years in 2009.

"It would be very nice to be back in that position," said Cinco Ranch coach Tammy Laurence, who has guided the Lady Cougars since their inception, helping them claim seven district titles in the first 10 years.

They went 17-10 in non-district play, then really took off in District 19-5A games, jumping out to an 8-1 record heading into their final three matches. They close the regular season at 5:30 p.m. on Friday at Katy.

"We're doing pretty well right now," Laurence said. "We're happy with what we've accomplished and we're still trying to get better. It's been a road of work, and the kids are working hard and trying to respond to what we're asking them to do."

The Lady Cougars expected to be better this season, and they've come through. They went 5-1 in the first round of district, then solidified their position on top with a three-set win over Memorial in the second round.

That left the Lady Mustangs a game back heading into the final three matches.

But surviving the first round wasn't easy.

The Lady Cougars played three three-set matches in their first six district contests, with wins over Memorial and Seven Lakes and a surprising loss to Katy Taylor.

"They were close - two points, 31-29, things like that - and it could go either way," Laurence said about the wins over Seven Lakes and Memorial. "And it was the same thing with Taylor. They beat us in the fifth 15-11."

Starting district with a grueling five-set win over Memorial was big, Laurence said.

"That helped set the tone and the mental state that, 'You know, we can do this,'" she said. "The way they finished that fifth game 15-1 was just awesome, and that really gave them a lot of confidence that I felt like we needed going into district."

The Taylor loss in five exposed their weakness - unforced errors. Those mistakes held them back in several matches this season. The Lady Mustangs went just 3-3 in the first round with losses to Seven Lakes and Memorial.

"Taylor played very well," Laurence said. "I won't take that win from them. They beat us.

"Our problem was we were committing so many errors. Out of 25 points, we may give you 15, and you can't win like that against a team that's going to fight, and Taylor came in there and fought and played hard …"

The first-round win over Seven Lakes was hard-fought, and outside hitter McKenzi Poehl led the charge for the Lady Cougars, supplying a career-high 20 kills to go along with 24 digs and two service aces.

"She has the ability to hit the ball and put it down hard, and it was really nice that our setters were giving her sets that she could put down … and she was hitting line and tooling the block," Laurence said.

"She played hard."

Senior outside hitter Shelby Cielencki and junior libero Hannah Kirk have continued to play hard in district.

Kirk, Laurence said, has been "phenomenal" in district.

"She's getting a lot of balls up that are helping us and keeping us in rallies, and we hope she continues that," Laurence said.

The goal down the stretch is simple.

The Lady Cougars had their playoff spot sewed up a while back, but a first-place seed would give them a favorable first-round matchup, probably against 20-5A's Carnegie Vanguard or Chavez.

The Cinco Ranch Lady Cougars are trying to put the finishing touches on their eighth district championship.

This one would be particularly sweet.

The program went through a rough patch recently, finishing fourth in back-to-back seasons after advancing to the Class 5A state semifinals and winning their fourth district championship in five years in 2009.

"It would be very nice to be back in that position," said Cinco Ranch coach Tammy Laurence, who has guided the Lady Cougars since their inception, helping them claim seven district titles in the first 10 years.

They went 17-10 in non-district play, then really took off in District 19-5A games, jumping out to an 8-1 record heading into their final three matches. They close the regular season at 5:30 p.m. on Friday at Katy.

"We're doing pretty well right now," Laurence said. "We're happy with what we've accomplished and we're still trying to get better. It's been a road of work, and the kids are working hard and trying to respond to what we're asking them to do."

The Lady Cougars expected to be better this season, and they've come through. They went 5-1 in the first round of district, then solidified their position on top with a three-set win over Memorial in the second round.

That left the Lady Mustangs a game back heading into the final three matches.

But surviving the first round wasn't easy.

The Lady Cougars played three three-set matches in their first six district contests, with wins over Memorial and Seven Lakes and a surprising loss to Katy Taylor.

"They were close - two points, 31-29, things like that - and it could go either way," Laurence said about the wins over Seven Lakes and Memorial. "And it was the same thing with Taylor. They beat us in the fifth 15-11."

Starting district with a grueling five-set win over Memorial was big, Laurence said.

"That helped set the tone and the mental state that, 'You know, we can do this,'" she said. "The way they finished that fifth game 15-1 was just awesome, and that really gave them a lot of confidence that I felt like we needed going into district."

The Taylor loss in five exposed their weakness - unforced errors. Those mistakes held them back in several matches this season. The Lady Mustangs went just 3-3 in the first round with losses to Seven Lakes and Memorial.

"Taylor played very well," Laurence said. "I won't take that win from them. They beat us.

"Our problem was we were committing so many errors. Out of 25 points, we may give you 15, and you can't win like that against a team that's going to fight, and Taylor came in there and fought and played hard …"

The first-round win over Seven Lakes was hard-fought, and outside hitter McKenzi Poehl led the charge for the Lady Cougars, supplying a career-high 20 kills to go along with 24 digs and two service aces.

"She has the ability to hit the ball and put it down hard, and it was really nice that our setters were giving her sets that she could put down … and she was hitting line and tooling the block," Laurence said.

"She played hard."

Senior outside hitter Shelby Cielencki and junior libero Hannah Kirk have continued to play hard in district.

Kirk, Laurence said, has been "phenomenal" in district.

"She's getting a lot of balls up that are helping us and keeping us in rallies, and we hope she continues that," Laurence said.

The goal down the stretch is simple.

The Lady Cougars had their playoff spot sewed up a while back, but a first-place seed would give them a favorable first-round matchup, probably against 20-5A's Carnegie Vanguard or Chavez.